The L… Read Full Bio ↴The Like Young were an indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois.
The Like Young were Amanda Ziemba and Joe Ziemba, married in 2002 and playing music together in various bands since 1997 (most notably Wolfie and Busytoby). The couple formed the band in the spring of 2002 and went on to release their first album, a five-track EP entitled Looked Up Plus Four that same year on Kittridge Records. In the spring of 2003, they released their first full-length album, Art Contest, to mixed but overall not great reviews. Not to be discouraged, Amanda and Joe put their heads together and created So Serious, which was released in the summer of 2004 to very good reviews. Both of their full length albums were released on Parasol Records.
The Like Young were often compared to Weezer for their vocal harmony and guitar-driven indie rock, and while the sound is similar, it is produced by just two people, half the size if not smaller than many bands with similar sounds.
In The Like Young, Amanda played the drums and Joe played the guitar, bass, and occasionally keyboard and both do vocals. Most of the songs were written by Joe.
In August 2006, The Like Young announced their retirement. In the announcement Joe reassured fans that the decision was a happy one. The Like Young played their final show on September 12 at The Silverlake Lounge in Los Angeles.
Spell It Out
The Like Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
from the minute i stepped, it became a shit party
so i go home
you don't need petty hi's to help you spell it out
you can try, but it won't help me
this got me all dressed up
but i talk like someone just passed
and then my cheeks get hot
so i go home
you don't need pretty hi's to help you spell it out
so i go home
i hope the tightness dies before i spell it out
you can try, but it won't help me
when i hear your keys in the bathroom
i'm inadequate
i have had enough and i'm through with all this putting up
i have spent a half year worrying
now i know nothing good can come from this
In "Spell It Out" by The Like Young, the singer is clearly having a rough day. They sing, "I'll gather all bad things and I'll force them into this day / From the minute I stepped it became a shit party." Despite dressing up and trying to hold it together, the singer cannot shake their bad mood. They feel as though they are not living up to their own expectations and that nothing good can come from their current situation.
The chorus of the song provides some clarity as to what the singer might be feeling. They sing, "You don't need pretty hi's to help you spell it out / So I go home / I hope the tightness dies before I spell it out / You can try, but it won't help me." It seems as though the singer is holding onto some pent-up emotion, but they may not feel as though they can express it properly. This feeling of being trapped in their own emotions is emphasized with the lines, "When I hear your keys in the bathroom / I'm inadequate." The singer could be feeling insecure or guilty, but it's not entirely clear what exactly is making them feel that way.
Overall, "Spell It Out" tells a relatable tale of a bad day and the emotions that come with it. The Like Young's lyrics capture the feeling of wanting to express oneself but feeling like it won't make any difference. It's a reminder that sometimes, we just need to go home and try again tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
i'll gather all bad things and i'll force them into this day
I will take all the negative thoughts and emotions and make them a part of my day.
from the minute i stepped, it became a shit party
As soon as I arrived, everything went wrong and became unpleasant.
so i go home
I choose to leave and go back to the comfort of my own space.
you don't need petty hi's to help you spell it out
Small talk or pleasantries are unnecessary to express oneself clearly.
you can try, but it won't help me
Others may attempt to assist, but it won't make a difference for me.
this got me all dressed up
This situation made me put effort into my appearance.
but i talk like someone just passed
I speak as if I am grieving or upset over a recent loss.
and then my cheeks get hot
I feel embarrassed or ashamed.
i really miss what i do have
Despite having things to be grateful for, I still feel a sense of longing.
so i go home
Once again, I choose to leave and seek refuge in my own space.
i hope the tightness dies before i spell it out
I hope the feeling of constriction or pressure lessens before I express myself clearly.
when i hear your keys in the bathroom
The sound of someone else entering the bathroom is triggering for me.
i'm inadequate
I feel insufficient or not good enough.
i have had enough and i'm through with all this putting up
I am fed up with enduring difficult or unpleasant situations and choose to stop tolerating it.
i have spent a half year worrying
I have spent a significant amount of time feeling concerned or anxious.
now i know nothing good can come from this
I have realized that there will not be a positive outcome or resolution from this situation.
Contributed by Declan A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SORCelement
Thank you for this.
Maladroit Films
My pleasure.